8th meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Committee between the EU and Croatia

The 8th meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Committee between the EU and Croatia took place in Zagreb on 4th December 2012. The meeting’s integral focus referred to Croatia’s final stage in the pre-accession process. The meeting presented an opportunity

The 8^th meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Committee between the EU and Croatia took place in Zagreb on 4^th December 2012. The meeting’s integral focus referred to Croatia’s final stage in the pre-accession process. The meeting presented an opportunity for both parties to exchange views on the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, while also providing an opportunity to review Croatia’s progress in fulfilling the remaining membership preparations. The SA Committee congratulated Croatia on having reached this point on the road towards accession and encouraged Croatia to continue making progress. The Committee expressed confidence Croatia will be able to meet the requirements arising from accession negotiations. The Commission will next report on this towards the end of March 2013.

The SA Committee between the EU and Croatia met for the eighth time since the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement on 1^st February 2005. The meeting took place on 4 December in the context of Croatia as an acceding country with an active observer status in the EU institutions, having successfully completed accession negotiations in June 2011 and signed the Accession Treaty in December 2011.  

Having achieved further progress in fulfilling obligations, as assessed by the EC Comprehensive Monitoring Report published in October, Croatia is determined to keep focus on the fulfilment of the remaining measures and compliance with the commitments from the accession negotiations. The Croatian Government has adopted and is vigorously implementing an Action Plan which provides a set of clear and detailed measures to be carried out until accession.  

The SA Committee expressed optimism that the ratification of the Croatian Accession Treaty in remaining Member States will proceed smoothly in the upcoming period. National parliaments in nineteen Member States have already ratified the Accession Treaty, while in further six Member States parliamentary procedure is underway. All MS have underlined their commitment to carry out all necessary steps in due time, thus allowing the Croatian Accession Treaty to enter into force on 1^st July 2013, as envisaged. 

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Hrvoje Marušić, Director General for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia and Mrs Alexandra Cas Granje, Director in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement.

With regard to political criteria, the Committee noted that efforts to strengthen the independence, accountability, impartiality and professionalism of the judiciary have continued. Croatia was encouraged to continue resolving the backlog of court cases and to effectively enforce court decisions. The Committee noted that continued efforts are needed in improving the professionalism of the public service. The importance of a strong system of corruption prevention was underlined and in this respect Croatia was called upon to promptly establish the Conflict of Interest Commission. The Committee noted progress achieved on refugee return issues and encouraged Croatia to continue with measures, in particular with providing housing care to returnees. The Committee stressed the need of further efficient prosecution of war crimes and continuous attention to victims and witnesses of war crimes. As regards regional cooperation, the Committee noted that Croatia maintained the dialogue with neighbouring countries in order to address open issues and encouraged Croatia to continue working in order to find mutually acceptable solutions in all pending bilateral and regional issues.

As regards economic criteria, recent economic developments and progress in structural reforms were discussed and particular emphasis was given to the impact of the global financial crisis on the Croatian financial sector and the wider economy. Croatia is fully committed to improve the growth prospects of the economy through continuous fiscal consolidation and deficit reduction but also through acceleration of the structural reforms. The Committee underlined the need to vigorously implement the urgently needed structural reforms together with the improvement of the business environment by reducing a heavy regulatory burden. Enhancing the efficiency of public spending remains a key challenge. Croatia is acting in line with the Commission’s recommendations relating to, inter alia, pursuing differentiated, growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, in particular lowering of the tax burden on labour costs and enforcement of tax discipline. Further priorities are restoring normal lending to the economy, promoting growth and competitiveness, tackling unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis, and modernising public administration.

The Committee reviewed progress in the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and alignment of legislation with the acquis. The SA Committee welcomed the fact that Croatia is generally meeting the commitments and requirements arising from the accession. The SA Committee assessed that the implementation of the remaining obligations had continued without any major difficulties, as Croatia is completing its alignment with the acquis. The SA Committee examined in detail the areas where the Commission has identified further efforts are necessary, as well as a limited number of issues where increased efforts are required. Croatia is determined to implement all necessary measures, including specific actions in the areas of competition policy, judiciary and fundamental rights, and freedom, security and justice, as well as increasing the capacity to translate and revise the acquis.

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